Roof walkway systems are important for the companies that use metal buildings to do business. Rooftop walkway systems are safety features for employees who perform maintenance on your structure. It also extends the life of your rooftop. Choosing the right rooftop walkway systems will save you a lot of time and money on wear and tear caused by people walking on your roof. It will also help you comply with OSHA standards. However, before you make the choice, it is important to evaluate your system and ensure it provides the following features.
Lightweight and strong
Roof structures can be very fragile and might not hold loadbearing capacities similar tothe building’s floors. Rooftop access systems should therefore be constructed with lightweight materials that are strong enough to support employees.
Minimum maintenance
When choosing the right rooftop walkway systems, you should ensure you choose a system that is cheap and easy to maintain. You need to ensure that the materials used to make the system are non-combustible and corrosion-resistant. Modular components allow for sections of your system to be removed if needed instead of removing the whole system just because of a small damaged part.
Roof pitch
The walkway system of your roof shouldn’t be a one size fits all project. You should know the pitch of your roof if you want to find the correct walkway system. Some rooftops could require leveled roof safety systems or a system that is designed to specific high-performance standards.
No-slip surface
Your rooftop’s walkway surface should be ribbed or grated or a combination of both to prevent slips and keep your employees safe.
No damage to your roofing
You shouldn’t choose a walkway system that will penetrate the membrane of your roof during installation. Any area on your metal roof where the roof membrane needs to be penetrated is subject to moisture and roof leaks. You should choose a system that uses specially designed clips that do not penetrate the standing roof panels.
Consider guardrail systems
Guardrail systems are placed to keep the workers safe. The guardrails need to be at least a quarter an inch thick to prevent abrasions and cuts. The top height of your guardrail should be 43 inches minus or plus 3 inches above the working or walking level. Guardrail and handrail specifications should meet the loading parameters of your roof.
Walkway water pooling
It is important to keep the work areas on the roof free of pools of water to protect the safety of your employees. However, poor drainage features on the walkways could allow pooling and cause hazards to employees. You should ensure that the walkway allows for proper drainage to avoid water pooling issues.
Tool requirements
When choosing roof walkway systems, it is important to consider the ease of installation. Metal systems using clamps or clips require only hand tools to install and you can install them yourself. You should, therefore, consider the installation especially if you do not want to spend a lot of money on the installation.
